Lewis Hamilton criticizes Charles Leclerc over Mexico Grand Prix clash, Digi Mart USA News (Mexico City): British Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton said Thursday that he remains “frustrated” by an incident with his Monegasque Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc at the start of last Sunday’s Mexico Grand Prix, which he believes cost the team a victory.
Both drivers fought fiercely through the first corners, narrowly avoiding contact, and both Ferraris were briefly forced off the track. Hamilton, who started from pole position with Leclerc third, reacted angrily over team radio after Leclerc took the lead, and Leclerc was later given a five-second penalty.
The incident handed the win to Max Verstappen of Red Bull, while Ferrari finished second and fourth. Speaking to reporters in Sao Paulo, Hamilton said, “We need to have a discussion, and we will have it in due time when we get back to Europe.” Leclerc was absent from the press day due to the birth of his daughter.
Hamilton said the team had a real chance to win and praised Ferrari for pushing the squad forward this year. Asked whether Leclerc was more aggressive toward him than toward rivals from Mercedes, Red Bull or McLaren, Hamilton answered “yes,” adding that he sees the same pattern.
He pointed to Singapore, where Leclerc battled wheel-to-wheel with Verstappen, and said Leclerc’s previous Ferrari teammates, Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz, faced similar situations.
Hamilton, 41, had previously spoken of “big problems” within the Scuderia and requested a meeting with Leclerc and team principal Frederic Vasseur. Vasseur appeared to criticize Leclerc after the race, expressing his “annoyance” toward him and toward “the 2,000 people who work” at Ferrari F1.
In the standings, Ferrari is second in the constructors’ championship, 126 points behind Mercedes, which is virtually assured of the title. Hamilton is third in the drivers’ standings, two points behind Verstappen, while Leclerc is fifth.
Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes was crowned world champion on Sunday.
